Spots in Nara Park Area

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Nara City

Nara Park

Category

Tōdai-ji

4.5

5684 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1

"Located in Nara City, as the head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. The principal image is Vairocana Buddha, the symbol of Nara as the ""Great Buddha of Nara"". In 743, Emperor Shomu issued his imperial edict for the erection of the Great Buddha Image, and with the cooperation of many people, it was constructed in the hope that all would be happy. The temple grounds are dotted with the national treasures such as Nandai-mon (Great South Gate), Daibutsu-den (Great Buddha Hall), Bell Tower, and Hokke-do (Lotus Hall, Sangatsu-do). It is also known worldwide as one of Japan's most popular tourist spots and attracts many foreign tourists."

This temple is beautiful. As we walked towards it, we met many friendly deer who are famous in Nara. They come up to visitors hoping to be fed and can be convinced with biscuits.To enter the temple...
Kasuga Taisha Shrine

4.5

1778 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Kasuganochou 160

This is a Shinto shrine located in Nara City. Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the grand head shrine of approximately 1,000 Kasuga shrines nationwide. The origins to the shrine lie in the early days of the Nara period, when Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto from Kashima-jingu Shrine was enshrined at Mt. Mikasa. The main shrine of the Kasuga structure which is a National Treasure has four buildings lined up, and in addition to the majestic and splendid south Gate and middle gate, there are many things such as fine and industrial art objects which have been designated as Important Cultural Properties. The Bantoro Festival (Lantern Festival) event is held on the day of Setsubun (Bean throwing night) and on the 14th and 15th of August when around 3,000 stone lanterns and hanging lanterns are lit with fire, and many worshipers come to look at this magical sight.

The local bus can bring you right to the shrine. The bus is a lot like a trolly and there are two companies. One is 220 yen per ride the other is 100 yen per ride. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a walk...
Nara Park

Leisure / Hobbies

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou · Kasugano Town, Noborioji Town, Takahata-machi other

Nara Park is located directly next to the famous temples and shrine of Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Kofukuji Temple, as well as the Nara National Museum. The park is inhabited by sika deer, designated as a Natural Monument, and visitors can observe these wild animals up close. Throughout the year important buildings in the park are lit up at night, which engenders a magical atmosphere very different to that of the daytime.
Kohfukuji Temple

4.0

1332 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 48

This is a temple located in Nara City. Yamashina-dera Temple has its origin as a temple that was established in Kyoto in 669 by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari. The temple was destroyed by fires many times and was rebuilt, after which it ended up similar to temple ruins during the anti-Buddhist movement in the Meiji period, although the Tokon-do Hall, the five-storied pagoda, the Hokuen-do Hall and the three-storied pagoda which survived have been designated as National Treasures. The five-storied pagoda which is illuminated at night-time has become a symbol of Nara. There are also many Buddhist images enshrined at the temple which have been designated as National Treasures and Cultural Assets such as the Ashura statue.

A short, 5-minute walk from the train station. The grounds themselves are free, but there is a fee to enter a few of the buildings. The National Treasure Museum exceeded my expectations and had a...
Nara National Museum

4.5

484 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 50

This is a museum which opened in Nara City in 1895. The “Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall (in the main building)” which was designed by the court architect, Katayama Tokuma is a Western-style architectural structure from the Meiji period and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. There are four exhibition halls in the museum, with the museum’s collection focusing on Japanese Buddhist art from the Asuka period up until the Kamakura period. In addition, a great number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are among the artifacts held and exhibited at the museum. The museum is famous for opening an exhibition of “Shosoin-ten” (Exhibition of Shosoin Treasures) in Autumn every year.

My friends and I spent about 2 and a half hours here, reading about each statue and piece we came across. There’s plenty of historic pieces to keep you busy that long!
Great Buddha Hall

4.5

100 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1 in the Todaiji Temple

"It is a Buddhist hall of Todai-ji in Nara City and is a national treasure of Japan. Its official name is Todai-ji Kondo (Great Buddha Hall, the main hall of Todai-ji). It is the largest building in the precincts of the temple, built to enshrine the seated statue of Vairocana Buddha, the principal image of the temple, and known as the ""Great Buddha of Nara"". The statue of Vairocana Buddha is approximately 14.98 meters tall and made of bronze. Parts of the abdomen, legs, and pedestal from the time of its construction remain. During the Bon Festival and from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, the kanso (viewing Buddha's face) window under the kara hafu (undulating gable) on the front side of the temple opens and the face of the Great Buddha can be seen from the outside."

This should be merged with the Todaiji Temple listing. This is the primary attraction at Todaiji Temple. Comparing to other great Buddha statues, this one is just alright. It is still...
Shinyakushi-ji Temple

4.5

212 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Takabatakechou 1352

A Buddhist temple built by Empress Komyo in prayer for the recovery of illness of Emperor Shomu in 747. During the Nara period, the temple was one of the 10 most important in Nara and over 100 priests studied on its vast grounds. In the Heian period, however, the temple’s size was reduced due to lightning strikes and typhoons. The main temple nave looks as it did when first erected and enshrines a seated figure of Bhaisajyaguru, the temple’s main object of worship, as well as standing figures of the Twelve Divine Generals.

This temple is approximately 1,300 years old and the main hall dates back that far. The grounds are small in comparison to its days of glory, but theres still much to see here. This neighborhood is...
Nara Hotel

4.0

954 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nara Nara-shi Takabatakecho 1096

Coming to Nara hotel, the exterior and interior are fantastic and give you expectations. But from there it’s just going down. It was lot of don’t have, can’t do. Service not top. Room was OK...
Ukimido

4.0

122 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Takabatakechou Kakiuchi 1170

Ukimido is a beautiful hexagonal pavilion with thatched cypress roofing, floating at one edge of the Sagi-ike Pond in Nara Park. The pavilion was originally built in 1916 however, due to deterioration it was restored and rebuilt over a period of three years from 1991, bringing it back to its former glory. A bridge reaches out to the pavilion from the bank of Sagi-ike Pond, making it possible for visitors to walk across to Ukimido. The surrounding cherry blossom, autumn leaves, and crape myrtle are very pretty too and the place has become a well known sightseeing spot. Visitors can enjoy the fantastic views of the pavilion lit up at night.

Ukimido is a hexagonal wooden gazebo floating over the Sagiike Pond in the Nara Park near Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Its geometric shape reflects beautifully in the water below, and the building itself...
Great South Gate

4.5

105 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1 in the Todaiji Temple

This is the main gate of Tōdai-ji in Nara City and has been designated as a National Treasure. The original gate was destroyed by a typhoon in 962, and the present gate was rebuilt in the Kamakura period. It is Japan’s largest temple gate reaching a height of 25.46 meters. There are 18 giant pillars up to the roof, and in the lower section of the gate, the back of the roof structure has no ceiling—so it is famous as the architectural structure which houses the Great Buddha.

The Todai ji Gate was simply massive and the temple itself is even more impressive. Ive never seen a gate this large before and it was incredible to look at. I was here when it was rainy, so it was...
Himuro Shrine

4.0

137 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Kasuganocho 1-4

"A 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station and a 60-minute drive from the Kyoto-minami Interchange. This Shinto shrine is also located right next to the ""Himurojinja-Kokuritsuhakubutsukan"" bus stop. The shrine was originally dedicated to venerating Mt. Kasuga. From around 711, the shrine gifted blocks of ice created in a cold room to the imperial capital of Hejio-kyo (now Nara). After the capital was moved to Kyoto, the shrine was abolished and then later moved to its current location and revived. Even today, the shrine is still visited by persons involved in industries concerning ice, such as ice making, refrigeration, and freezing. Each year the shrine holds the Kenpyosai ice festival on May 1st, as well as the Himoruo Shirayuki Shaved Ice Festival in March. Visitors can also view beautiful weeping cherry blossoms on the grounds from late March to early April."

this is definitely a unique temple:the deity it honors is the ice god, which is why you may see little blocks of ice (lanterns) lining the front steps or the other pathways on the shrines grounds...
Ume-no-sato Tsukigase Onsen

3.5

14 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nara Nara-shi Tsukigase Oyama 2681

"A hot spring bath house in Mt. Tsukigaseo, Nara City. The baths are fed by the Tsukigase Onen called ""Bijin-no-Yu (Bath for Beauty)"", a simple thermal hot spring with weak alkalinity tthat is said to be effective at helping with nerve pain, muscle pain, and joint pain. They have two baths, Cha-no-Yu (Tea Bath) and Ume-no-Yu (Plum Bath) which switch genders every day, which feature indoor baths as well as open-air baths and sauna. From the open-air bath you can look over the Iga Basin (Only from the Cha-no-Yu side). In the dining hall there is a private room available that can accommodate up to 28 people (reservation required)."

瓜田に履を納れずと続くは周知。温泉敷地内にある月ケ瀬地区、市の共用施設「ふれあい市場」はよく利用する。月ケ瀬では他人の畑の近所に車を止めてはならない。作物を眺めるのはかろうじて許されるが、一本の茶葉の味を確かめることなどは許されない。どう区別するのか、多いのだろうか特定の村人以外による農作物の盗難には余程不信感があるらしい。村人らしいご婦人に叱られたばかりであるから、芽が出たばかりの...
Hannya-ji Temple

3.5

52 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Hannyajichou 221

A Buddhist temple founded by Hyegwan, a priest from Goguryeo, in the Asuka period. Later, in 735, Emperor Shomu had 600 copies of the Great Perfection of Wisdom buried at the temple to have it serve as a guardian of the unlucky northeastern side of ancient Nara; the temple was renamed the Hannya-ji and it was designated an Imperial temple. The temple’s impressive two-tier gate is an impressive example of Kamakura period architecture. In autumn, 150 thousand cosmos plants come into beautiful and elegant bloom.

期間限定で御開帳されていた阿弥陀如来像の拝観に行ってきました。重文で白鳳時代の秘仏です。ここは聖武天皇が平城京の鬼門を守護するために堂塔を建立したのが始りです。十三重石宝塔の軸石から見つかった白鳳秘仏等が公開されていました。丁度期間中にはここのもう一方の売りである「コスモス」が満開でした。通称名、コスモス寺として有名です。
Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City

4.0

44 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nara Pref. Narashi Takabatakechou 600-1

This is a photo gallery next to Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple in Takabatake Town, Nara City. The gallery possesses the entire 80,000 item collection of photographer Irie Taikichi, known for capturing the various Yamato scenery around Nara, and holds exhibitions based around these works and also the work of amateurs. The building itself, a work of architect Kisho Kurokawa, is another highlight and represents the importance of harmony with the environment.

Located slightly away from the main sights, this photography museum hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. At the time of my visit it was showing two interesting exhibitions:Irie...
Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine

3.5

65 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 434

This is a shrine in Nara City. It is located in Tamukeyama which is famous as a beauty spot for its autumnal leaves, and it is built to the north of Tōdai-ji’s Hokke-do Hall (also called “Sangastu-do Hall”). Its origins lie in the summoning and enshrinement secured from Kyoto’s Usa Hachimangu Shrine which were the deities summoned to protect Tōdai-ji on the occasion of Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha being built. The ancient log house structure of the treasure house was relocated from the master’s warehouse from Tōdai-ji’s oil storehouse in the Nara period, and it is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Also housed on the grounds of the temple are such a National Treasure as a “Chinese-style ritual saddle” and an Important Cultural Property like a “21 wooden bugaku theatre mask”.

A small, attractive shrine. I purchased my first goshuincho there, and the lady wrote something lovely that I cant yet read (my Japanese is limited!) in my book, so I was very pleased.
Tsukigase Plum Ravine

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Tsukigaseoyama

Tsukigase Plum Ravine is a forest of plum trees that extends along the Satsuki River (part of Nabari River) ravine. One of the three largest plum forests in Nara Prefecture, it is well known as a site for viewing blossoms. About 10,000 plum trees grow there, and during blossom season, the entire forest is a riot of red and white flowering trees. The Tsukigase Plum Ravine Festival, held during blossom season, attracts large numbers of tourists.
Enjo-ji Temple

4.5

30 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Ninnikusenchou 1273

This is an old temple said to have been built in the Heian period, known as one of the five important temples of Kita-Yamato. Inside the grounds are lined historic structures including Japan's oldest Kasuga-zukuri style main building, the Kasuga-do and Hakusan-do Shrine designated as National Treasures, and a main building (containing an enshrined image of Amitabha) with an attached stage said to have been rebuilt in the Muromachi-period (1336-1573). The beautiful garden around the central pond stretching out from the two-storied gate Romon was favored by the nobility from the Heian to Kamakura periods and is an important remaining example of what resembles a Heian-style garden featuring characteristics of both shuyu-shiki and jodo-shiki.

柳生道の中間地点ほどに位置している古刹です。大日如来坐像は国宝で、運慶初期の作だそうで、豊かな表現力が青年期の運慶を物語っています。金箔が所々に残っていました。浄土式庭園も見どころです。春日堂・白山堂も国宝です。
Hokke Do (Sangatsu Do)

4.0

48 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Zoshicho 406-1

There is an impressive and very old statue of Guan Yin or Kannon in this place. Apparently its over a thousand years old. There are also the four heavenly kings that are also very old. But it is an...
Nara Prefectural Museum of Art

3.5

29 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 10-6

This is an art museum along Prefectural Route 754 in Noborioji Town, Nara City. They opened in 1973 based on the collection of Japanese-style paintings, ukiyo-e wood block prints and handicrafts of Edo Period donated by Kanpo Yoshikawa, a student of study of folklore history and Japanese-style painter. Since then through donations from all over they have collected around 4,100 pieces of art and crafts from the Kamakura Period to the modern day. They hold special exhibitions related to the history of Nara, and art exhibitions as exchanges with international art museums.

The National museum was closed for more than 1 month due to exhibit change over. We were sent here instead which had a super show on a well known Japanese painter with an all inclusive one man...
Tenpyoan (Todai-ji Temple Branch)

4.5

24 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Kasuganochou 16 Todaiji Temple Yumeikaze Hiroba

This is a Japanese confectionary store in the Yume-Kaze Plaza in front of the gate of the Todai-ji Temple in Kasugano Town, Nara City. The store makes sweets from locally grown ingredients such as Japanese Yamato-imo yam and Yoshino-kuzu arrowroot. A popular item is the Japanese hotcake sweet bean paste sandwich called Yamato sanzan dorayaki. They are made freshly daily with red beans, and flour and eggs from a Tokachi farm. There is also a cafe on the second floor where customers can enjoy sweets and Miwa Somen noodles.

I was looking for something sweet on my way out from Nara Park, and this shop looked really nice! I bought a small strawberry daifuku and a matcha cake with white chocolate cream filling. Let me tell...

Nara Nara City Nara Park

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Nara Areas

With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of "traditional Japan." The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.